Cyber Directorate Urges Israeli Food Companies to Secure Refrigeration Controls

The Israel National Cyber Directorate urged Israeli retail chains, food companies and logistics centers on November 2 to check the protection of remotely controlled refrigeration and freezing equipment. The warning followed a wave of attacks in Europe targeting temperature-control systems connected to the internet. The Directorate asked companies to review their systems and report the checks and protective measures they had taken. The Directorate called on operators to “protect themselves immediately against a takeover of refrigeration systems.” According to the warning, attackers in Europe remotely changed temperature settings and activated defrost functions, warming refrigerated storage and spoiling food. The reported consequences included financial losses, store disruptions and equipment damage. The advisory focused on controllers that allow technicians and service providers to reach refrigeration equipment remotely; it did not announce a confirmed attack on an Israeli food business. The recommended measures included removing direct internet exposure, changing default passwords, updating outdated systems and requiring multifactor authentication for remote access. The Directorate also recommended independent alerts for unusual temperature changes. It emphasized that protection must cover operational equipment alongside ordinary information systems because interference can affect stock, business continuity and essential supplies. Organizations operating remotely controlled refrigeration systems were asked to examine their defenses and report unusual activity to the Directorate’s 119 hotline.